Feeling, Standing, Dreaming: Psychodinamic Observing Function and therapeutic effects in a group for cocaine addiction

Journal title GRUPPI
Author/s Silvia Formentin, Angelo Silvestri
Publishing Year 2018 Issue 2017/2
Language Italian Pages 9 P. 128-136 File size 150 KB
DOI 10.3280/GRU2017-002010
DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation click here

Below, you can see the article first page

If you want to buy this article in PDF format, you can do it, following the instructions to buy download credits

Article preview

FrancoAngeli is member of Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), a not-for-profit association which run the CrossRef service enabling links to and from online scholarly content.

The present work would tell about a slow-open group implemented 8 years ago in a public service for dependence in Italy. It would show how psychodynamic model of group therapy is able to conduct the cocaine users to a more reflexive approach to the life and to leave the illusion of power and efficiency. The work is focused on the "observing function" as a therapeutic factor and with respect to "like" the therapist enters into a relationship with the group. The aim is witnessing his clinical and therapeutic value and sets highlight the implications for the outcome of therapy. Initially the "observing function" is operating inside of the therapist but changes along the process occurring during the therapy growing in all participants allowing the acquisition of the self-reflective capacity.

Keywords: Group analysis, Observing function, Psychodynamic slow-open group, Cocaine addiction.

  1. Borgogno F. (1978). L’illusione di osservare. Torino: Giappichelli Editore.
  2. Corbella S. (2014). Liberi Legami. Un contributo psicoanalitico per un nuovo patto sociale. Roma: Borla.
  3. Lewin K. (1973). La teoria, la ricerca, l’intervento. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2005.
  4. Silvestri A. e Ferruzza E. (2012). Originalità e valore euristico del pensiero di Ferdinando Vanni sulla psicoterapia di gruppo. Gruppi, 15, 1: 51-78. DOI: 10.3280/GRU2012-00100
  5. Vanni F. (1984). Modelli mentali di gruppo. Milano: Raffaello Cortina.
  6. von Foester H. (1981). Sistemi che osservano. Roma: Astrolabio, 1987

Silvia Formentin, Angelo Silvestri, Sentire, sostare, sognare: Funzione osservante e ricadute terapeutiche in un gruppo per dipendenza da cocaina in "GRUPPI" 2/2017, pp 128-136, DOI: 10.3280/GRU2017-002010